CAP-USAF IG Reported Civil Air Patrol Abuses

[Editors’ Note: AuxBeacon is grateful to the contributor(s) of this now verified story on Civil Air Patrol abuses detailed in the biography of a U.S. Air Force pilot who served as CAP-USAF Inspector General. Reports from victims and concerned members across the United States confirm that the type of behavior reported by this respected officer continues to this day. We thank “Tex Gadget” for preparing the full article and we thank the estate of Lt Col Allan T. Stein, USAF, Retired for the extracts from his book that are included under 17 U.S.C. § 107 Fair Use doctrine.]

August 1, 2017
College Station

To the members and parents of Civil Air Patrol.

The article will provide evidence that professional volunteers and servant leaders are justified in their dismay over the corruption they encounter in Civil Air Patrol. These paragraphs will also explain the frenetic and failed attempts to suppress or discredit the many reports of fraud, theft, abuse and accidents in Civil Air Patrol that just recently have been revealed to the membership and public in a centralized library.

As part of their political agenda in these contentious times, some CAP members are contorting themselves and the English language to serve as apologists for their abusive overlords. This occurs in forums on Reddit, CAP Talk and in the mainstream media. Their modus operandi is to blithely ignore the mountain of journalist articles regarding abuse of power, sexual molestation, concealment and reprisals, and the NTSB assignment of blame to CAP for their numerous aviation accidents. Spin doctors clad in blue Class-A uniforms seek to counter-characterize the less-polished field reports from distressed members and to undermine efforts at reform as being rooted in “fake news.” Recent articles have shown that local coverups and reprisals are executed with the approval of CAP’s revolving national leadership in Montgomery, Alabama. There is no plausible deniability when the proper correction is only taken when both offenders and their co-dependent commanders are publicly exposed in the court system or media light of day.

Counts of Civil Air Patrol transgressions and the attempts to conceal them rise and fall in sync with national politics. Lt Col Allan T. Stein served as a US Air Force pilot on missions over China and the Sea of Japan during World War II. He served in Vietnam as the operations officer for the 360 TEWS: Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron. By the time he retired he had flown everything from BT-13s and B-24s to C-47s and B-52s. He ended his career as inspector general of the Civil Air Patrol during the years in which Jim Garrison connected CAP members David Ferrie, Barry Seal and Lee Harvey Oswald.

David Ferrie (left) and Lee Harvey Oswald (right) at New Orleans Civil Air Patrol in 1955

In his book, Into the Wild Blue Yonder: My Life in the Air Force, Stein details the corruption that he found within Civil Air Patrol and how it extended outside of the organization. The book was published by Texas A&M University Press in 2005, the same year that exiled Antonio “Tony” Pineda Jr. was installed as CAP National Commander. What follows is an extract from the last chapter of Stein’s book along with examples of how the same behavior continues to this day.

Chapter 12: The Final Air Force Days

When I rotated back to the states in June, 1967, I wanted to go back to Maxwell Air Force Base. We had bought a house in Montgomery and I had left Eva and the kids there… I took an assignment to the air force headquarters of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP-USAF) as the inspector general at Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Alabama, because it was the only opening available at Maxwell Air Force Base.

I was in charge of a team of inspectors who traveled around the country inspecting state Wings for search capability and compliance with air force directions. My inspection team consisted of one lieutenant colonel as director of inspection and three master sergeants who were specialists in supply, maintenance, and operations.

It was my duty as inspector general to determine the effectiveness of each unit and make recommendations to the air force and to the CAP commanders of the units. There are some very fine people involved in the CAP…

However there were also some Wings whose people used the CAP to further their own agendas.

Prior to an inspection, I would send a letter to the Wing commander advising him of the date of the inspection. I wanted to determine the effectiveness of the organization and our inspection team could not be as effective in a social environment. They are supposed to instill a desire for flying in young people, which hopefully they do. However, at that time, they took advantage of their situation to raise money that was spent on lavish parties for a small group of top commanders and their wives.

I discovered some of the civilians in charge of the CAP were very powerful politically. Although it was an Air Force Auxiliary, CAP-USAF headquarters had very little control over the CAP. For example, a former CAP supporter, who was a millionaire friend and financial supporter of President Johnson got CAP-USAF headquarters moved from Ellington Air Force Base near Houston into a new building that had been designated for the ROTC headquarters at Maxwell Air Force Base. When the air force commander of CAP-USAF tried to gain control of the CAP, the previously mentioned CAP commander called President Johnson and told him there was a “dead general” there, and asked him to please remove the “body.”

U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik was inducted into the Civil Air Patrol Congressional Squadron at the rank of “honorary Lieutenant Colonel”.

Another CAP commander, who was a multi-millionaire from Delaware wanted the CAP rank of the commander to be increased to brigadier general. Fortunately the Air Force held the line and refused his request.

Some, but not all, CAP officers liked to try to pass themselves off as real air force officers.

Two regional commanders had a regulation passed that all CAP members must have insurance for injuries suffered while on CAP duty… however one of the regional commanders owned the insurance company and another one owned the bank where the money was deposited that was collected from the members at an interest rate well below the going interest rate at the time. They were collecting ten dollars a year from each cadet in the United States. What a money making deal and of course, the Air Force had no control over it.

During an inspection of one of the wings, the supply inspector uncovered a discrepancy… thousands of high-value items, such as Jeeps, trucks, generators, radio equipment, radio stations… could not be accounted for. When I confronted the wing commander, a CAP colonel, he was very evasive. I told him I would stay indefinitely until I found all the government material. At that point he told me he knew where it was and we could take a flatbed truck and pick up the equipment, but in so doing we would black out a lot of ranches in the area because they all had Air Force generators. The trucks and jeeps were also at those ranches. He told me he intended to contact the state senator, who at that time was very powerful in the U.S. Senate. He also stated that he did not think the senator would be very happy with the air force in general and with me in particular.

Gwinnett County Composite Squadron IG Inspection Report 2011. They won National Squadron of the Year Award for the same year.

It finally came to me why the Wing Commander, a CAP colonel who was an obscure air force reserve captain, had a mobilization assignment in Washington D.C. He was the senator’s “number one boy” who was buying votes for the senator with the misappropriated air force property. I contacted my commander and explained the situation to him…. the senator was too powerful… I left with political thieves openly stealing from the air force.

A few of the air force’s senior officers who were involved and about to retire saw the CAP as a possible way of feathering their nests after retirement. They put themselves at the service of the more wealthy and influential members of the CAP. For example, after one of their lavish parties at Maxwell Air Force Base, two staff members from the Ohio Wing asked to be flown back home by air force transport. One of them wanted to get back in time to attend church. The other one wanted to sleep late. The air force commander of CAP-USAF provided two aircraft for their convenience. I flew the second one and passed the first one on his way back. The temptation to play along with these millionaires and politically influential people is more than some people can handle.

In the September 1999 issue of Air Force magazine, the following article appeared:

Federal agents with search warrants seized Civil Air Patrol records, data, and computer files in five states on July 21. The FBI and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations confiscated records at the CAP national headquarters at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, and at wings in Kentucky, Texas, Florida, and West Virginia in conjunction with “the alleged misuses of appropriated funds by CAP personnel,” said AFOSI spokesman Major Steve Murray.

According to Donna Leinwand of Gannett News Service, “The Air Force accused the 60,000 member group, known for its search and rescue operations, of mismanaging federal money, traveling first class on the taxpayer tab, retaliating against members who pointed out abuses and losing track of its equipment. Auditors said they could not account for 70 percent of the federally purchases communications equipment in one branch of the group.” Civil Air Patrol officials have denied the allegations.

The inspection and seizure of these records is long overdue. While there have undoubtedly been some changes in the operations and control of the CAP, the principle is still the same: Get all you can from the government.

After a couple of years of the Civil Air Patrol inspector general fiasco, Lt Col Allan Stein decided that he had enough and that his family needed him more than the people of South Vietnam, so he retired on August 1, 1969 which is 48 years ago to this day. Not much has changed, until now perhaps. It is only through the recent and persistent efforts of selfless members and former members that the politically compromised Civil Air Patrol can be reformed.

26 Commentson "CAP-USAF IG Reported Civil Air Patrol Abuses"

You people make me sick, citing the [redacted] liberals of US Today McSpews. You know who has influence at USA Today? Jill Lawrence, Eileen Rivers and Saundra Torry, that’s who. Look em up. These are the kind of people who work up folks against Donald Trump and Roy Moore. You are the ones who are aligning yourselves with filth.

Here’s another fact the Swivel Chair Patrol isn’t teaching us cadets about its past.

David Harold “Dry Hole” Byrd was a famous Texan oilman. In 1938 Texas Governor James Allred named him to the Texas Civil Aeronautics Commission and in September of 1941m Byrd was involved in founding the Civil Air Patrol and during WWII he commanded a CAP anti-submarine base at Beaumont, Texas.

After the war, Byrd helped to incorporate CAP and have it designated as an Auxiliary of the US Air Force. He helped to initiate IACE, the International Air Cadet Exchange, and supported cadet scholarships and was awarded the US Air Force’s Air Force Scroll of Appreciation in May of 1963.

Back in the 1930s he purchased the Texas School Book Depository in Dallas which was the site of the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy.

You seem to be implying that CAP was responsible for a conspiracy to kill JFK and isn’t just a receptacle for weakminded psychos who go on to do weakminded and psychotic shit latter in life. Like every thing LHO ever did.

Also, I don’t really see how david byrd’s accomplishments are supposed to be “bad”

I think CAP’s tax-exemption status and recognition as a non-profit by the IRS are under investigation currently. They do enough to lose their tax exemption by all the congressional lobbying they do. The CAP isn’t worthy of tax-exemption status.

What IS up with the Count Chocula medals Bedgood, Knowles, and Altieri are always wearing? Last time I checked, the Congressional Medal of Honor was the only award authorized to be worn around the neck in a CAP uniform. Like PleaseStop said, we go through all sorts of BS with the CAP uniform Board, but the leadership seems to think the regulations are optional, no surprise there. But apparently that’s why some recent IG complaints against our Vice Chairman were ignored in this wing.

In the above photo, Altieri is wearing what I think is the Silver Order of Saint Michael. Besides,he is in US Army service dress. I don’t know AR 670-1, so I can’t comment. Haven’t seen the decorations worn by Bedgood. And the neck award Knowles wears is the State of Maryland Distinguished Service Cross (MDNG award). Honestly because I could not recall where in 39-1 it states the only neck award authorized was the MOH. Besides, the MOH is not the only US military neck award (Legion of Merit(commander degree)).

It’s a state award, and in a CAPTalk forum, someone related JK was challenged on wearing it. JK related he was give authorization from the CAP/CC to wear it. Which flies in the face of two portions of the Manual. National Guard awards are not allowed and all comments under 1.1.2. Regardless…

I am just tired of seeing his overweight self in the USAF style uniform. It’s funny how his 101 gives the exact max for his height, but the flight clearance paperwork gives a much higher weight. Yep, we always fly with 40lbs of gear. Same thing with the senior member daughter too. She paints her ABU’s on. Not flattering.

Ironically, I read this book in early 2009 because it was recommended by Phillip T. McCombs, Cadet AFROTC. He authored a review that appeared in Air & Space Power Journal, Winter 2008 Volume: 22, Source Issue: 4. I have a hard copy of this issue if you ever need it.

“Overall, Into the Wild Blue Yonder was intriguing and enjoyable. All of the author’s vivid, exciting narratives brought back memories of times when I used to sit with my mom and listen to her stories about my grandfather’s Air Force career. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in flying or simply wants to know more about the Air Force. Allan Stein’s life story makes for an insightful and enjoyable read, especially for anyone who wants to become a military pilot.”

In Stein’s paragraph on CAP impersonating USAF you should add the link to the story about the CAP member who impersonated a USAF officer to get rifles and pistols and ammo for Civil Air Patrol firearms training.

In 1999, just before the FBI and OSI conducted their raids, I had been the Florida wing administrator for 3 years until Pineda fired me. He then immediately had his cronies pack up the wing’s headquarters at MacDill AFB in Tampa and move everything to South Florida, where he lived. So the raid of the Florida Wing didn’t go very well, and FBI and OSI agents showed up at my house and asked me, “Do you know where the wing headquarters is?” Later on in the investigation, one OSI agent told me, “You know, someday this Pineda guy is going to be the CAP’s national commander, and there’s nothing we can do to stop it.” To this day, I think because at the time Pineda was a special agent of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) he was probably tipped off about the FBI and the OSI efforts and that’s why he hid everything from them, but I could never prove that. The feds said I was “a protected federal witness” and asked me if I would accept a protection detail. They said, “This Pineda guy could have one of his cop buddies pull you over, shoot you and leave a ‘throw down’ next to your body and claim that you fired on them.” I told them I thought I could take care of myself and didn’t need it. By the time Pineda became the national commander, “News of the Force” was already in operation. When we first broke the story that he had cheated on his ACSC tests, the CAP issued a news release denying the truth of the story and quoting Pineda as saying the story was “absolutely untrue.” But with the help of someone who has another website, we were able to prove it and when we published the story it was picked up by news organizations around the world including in such places as Australia, New Zealand, Russia and even Poland and Romania. The story even appeared in “The Air Force Times.” We also sent a copy of the story to the FDLE, which, I was told by them, told Pineda to retire or be fired, and he chose to retire. As an aside, every time I spelled Pineda on my computer, my spell checker kept telling me that should read “Pinhead.”

Sir, a few of us want you to know how sorry we are that this happened to you. Understanding the potential value of a program like Civil Air Patrol, volunteering your time to help young people, and then having a selfish, manipulative “pinhead” rip your heart out. Thank you for all you have tried to do with NOTF.

If you post anything on there critical of CAP, especially if you are an ex-member, you will be threatened by the moderators to “knock it off” or you will be banned. I have been threatened twice.

The site exists to promote CAP from the CAP POV, and dissent is not tolerated.

I was forced out of CAP due to a disability and daring to care for a wife with a potentially-fatal illness instead of living up to what my then-CC saw as my “obligations.” To the members on CT, it was MY problem because I should have found a way to live up to my CC’s standards and to Hades with my own personal/family issues.

Ugh. We jump through all sorts of hoops in Civil Air Patrol, but the CAP manther freaks never tell us cadets why. My mom says that this story and the link to the legit book explains a lot.

My friend is coping with a sexual predator but needs cooperative letters of recommendation and a DoDMERB pass to advance. It is not clear to us AT ALL what she should do. Trust them and tell the truth and then get rejected for being an emotional PTSD victim? It is not right and anyone defending CAP or the Air Force over these abuses needs to stop and look in the mirror.

AuxBeacon News is a news aggregator. Although some of the individuals posting to this website, including the moderators, work for AuxBeacon, any opinions expressed are the personal opinions of the original authors, not of AuxBeacon. Third party content is provided for informational purposes only and is not meant to be an endorsement or representation by AuxBeacon, the Civil Air Patrol, the United States Air Force, the United States Government or any other party. AuxBeacon does not assume any responsibility or liability for any blogs, opinions or other commentary posted on this website or any website linked to this website and makes no express or implied warranty or guarantee about the accuracy, copyright compliance, legality, or any other aspect of the content. The owners of this website assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of any information provided herein. Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked sources.